This All-Black Boerum Hill Firehouse Has a Live-in Archery Range | Interior Lives

“The original firehouse was built in 1836,” says Julian LaVerdiere, production designer and artist. “We wanted something that would have felt like it worked its way into the original architectural history.”

LaVerdiere and his wife, Erica Hohf, who also works in set design but primarily in feature films, have transformed the space, renting out the first floor (now a Stumphouse Coffee), while turning the second story into their all-black home, sanctuary and workspace, with an archery range, Japanese soaking tub, and terrace.

In this episode of Interior Lives, our design editor Wendy Goodman takes us inside the couple’s beautiful, set-like home, where we met their pet snake and learned the importance of getting materials from the source, and why black plays such an important role in their approach to design.

[chs]

I'm glad Wednesday Addams is living her best life.

[kaniaanantadewi]

i mean of course they would have a pet snake

[unicorn_bread]

I'm so glad people like this exist.

[pastoral_landscape]

what happens when goths hit the top tax bracket

[samorman]

when two Slytherins get married and live undercover as muggles.

[gabrielfreire]

They look like the kind of people who would adopt the Baudelaire orphans

[wayawuffin]

like two very stylish bats took human form

[veganmantis]

When people say “there’s someone for everyone”.

[thazscorpio]

I am absolutely in love with this. In a sea of bleach white kitchens, and minimalism, this is such a breath of fresh air. There's nothing morbid about this house at all. The darker interior actually has a very warm, and cozy feel. The plants are the perfect splash of color for the kitchen as well!
I don't know why folks in these comments are calling this couple pretentious. Pretentious about what? Because they have money? A beautiful house? Know a lot of information about a lot of classical, and historical things? These folks are just very eccentric, creatives who found each other, and built a life around that.

[MaryMarisen]

I love it! Their vibe is like a modern version of the Addams Family

[mickjen]

I mean, I'm glad they found each other, but the matching sunglasses is when I lost it.

[tiffytattoo]

Being shot down by a bow during morning coffee is my favourite 2020 version of the Addams family.

[elizabethnarwastu]

They look like the characters i would make in the sims

[JBO]

God this is GLORIOUS! Works well because they have great lighting/books/plants and natural daylight where it matters. Not creepy or morbid at all!!

[loboestepario]

I love the message that you can do whatever you want to your house, because it is YOUR house. People in general get too easily manipulated into adhering to the latest decoration trends (minimalism, the blinding all white, those gigantic abstract paintings), but never stop to think that living in a pale copy of a boutique hotel is so terribly uninspiring. So... numbing.

[turquoisegreene]

"We don't want the house to be shadowy and dark, we want it to be filled with glowing gems." YES PREACH! Dark interiors are so underrated. I want to paint my walls black so they can fade into background and don't distract from the things that matter.

[kathurtado]

I don't care what any one has to say, that woman is GORGEOUS.

And the house is elegant, like black. Black has always been ELEGANT.

[cor]

is NOT my style, but I really do applaud them for their sense of design, which is really well thought out and represents their taste, style, ideology and commitment to being true to self. And it WORKS for them. Very well done.

[garciaelisha]

How they manage to meet each other is nothing short of a miracle.People like them are rare to come by

[dragonscorpio]

Beautiful home!!! Beautiful Japanese maples and ferns!!!!A soaking tub!! Beautiful clothes, Beautiful EVERYTHING!!!Beautiful silk prints!!!!